Road grader



Aug. 3, 193 7.

A IN VENTOR. Foy J ZI//mfa BY R. J. WINSOR Aug. 3, 1937.

ROAD GR ADER Filed Sept. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, 30g J Mfo/f E IAJTORAIEYy Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES ROAD GRADER Roy J. Winsor, Crestline, Ohio, assigner of onehalf to Clarence A. Henneuse, Bucyrus, Ohio Application September 8, 1932, Serial No. 632,122

Claims.

This invention relates as indicated to road graders and has particular reference to the provision of means associated with the scraper blade whereby the same may be maintained in adjusta- 5 ble predetermined relation to the ground in such a manner that an even cut will be taken thereby.

As is well known to those familiar with the art, considerable diiculty has been experienced in the operation of road graders due to the washpj, boarding action of the blade as it passes over relatively hard surfaces. This chattering of the blade is produced primarily by that end of the blade which is set deepest in the ground, vibrating due to certain inherent looseness and resilj.; iency in the blade and the means supporting the same and other reasons well known to those familiar with the art.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a device which may be employed in association with the scraper blades of road working implements whereby such blade may be steadied and caused to evenly traverse the ground, thereby eliminating the washboard effect produced when the blade chatters and to generally increase the efciency of operation of the machine.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then consists of the 50 means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means 5 5 constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a road grader 4g showing the device comprising my invention associated with the scraper blade thereof; Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 drawn to an enlarged scale, showing the connection between 4,5 the grader blade and the apparatus comprising my invention; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View of a portion of the apparatus lillustrated in Fig. 2 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 33; Figure 4 is a transverse sectional .50 view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line land Figure 5 is a side elevational view partially in section of the arm interconnecting the forward end of the runner with the grader 55 blade and its associated securing means.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and more especially to Figure l, it will be noted that the apparatus comprising my invention, presently to be explained, is illustrated as associated with a grader of well known one-man 5 type in which the po-wer means comprises a standard form of tractor in which the front wheels have been removed and the forward end of the tractor supported by a yoke secured to the opposite side frame members of the grader. .The lo construction of the grader is standard and is vbelieved to be well known to those familiar with the art so that the details of such grader apart from the attachment comprising my invention will not be explained. 15

It is to be understood that while the apparatus comprising my invention has been illustrated as associated with a grader of the one-man type', nevertheless, the same may be employed with any form of grader wherein a scraper blade is utilized for operation on the ground. L

Referring now more Specifically to Figure l, the apparatus comprising my invention consists of a frame, generally indicated at l, which is positioned adjacent one end of the scraper blade 2 and arranged in substantial parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the grader. The frame l comprises an upper frame member 3 and a lower member 4, the same being suitably interconnected and braced by members such vas 5, 5, 1, and 8. The lower frame member 4, which has been illustrated in the form of an I-beam, has preferably removably secured thereto in any well known manner, a runner 9 of hardened steel which is adapted to operate directly in contact with the ground. l

The forward end of the frame l is movably secured to the scraper blade by means `of a link lll, the arrangement and construction of which is most clearly illustrated in Figure 5. While 40 the illustrated link Ill is shown continuous, nevertheless, it is withinthe contemplation of my invention. to form `such link in several parts so that the length of the same may be adjusted to accommodate various adjustments in the setting of the frame relatively to the blade, as well as variations in the size of the machine with which my invention is employed. The speciiic means illustrated, whereby the link lil is secured at its opposite ends to the frame member 4 and the blade 2, comprises brackets il and I2 respectively, removably and adjustably secured to the blade 2 and the frame member 4, said brackets 'being provided with spherical projections l3 andl I4 forming a part of a` ball and 55 socket connection between such brackets and the opposite ends of thelink I0. This form of connection between the link I0 and the blade 2 and frame member 4 permits of relative movement between the blade and frame according to adjustments produced by the manipulation of the apparatus presently to be described.

The means for adjustably securing the frame y on 'the end of the blade is most clearly illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. By having reference to these figures, it will be noted that the blade 2 has removably secured to its upper corner a bracket generally indicated at I5, which is held in place by some suitable means such as screws I6. The bracket I5 has formed .integrally therewith bosses I1 and I8 which are provided with bearing apertures rotatably supporting a shaft I9. The shaft I9 intermediately the bosses I1 and I8 has secured thereto by means of a pin 20 a lever 2|, which is terminally provided with oppositely disposed cam surfaces 22 through which extends an aperture 23 the form of which is most clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

. Extending through the aperture 23 in the arm 2| is a threaded shaft 24 which, at its upper end, is oscillatably secured to the bracket I5 by pin 25 passing through ears 23 formed integrally on such bracket.

I'he shaft 24 has nuts 21 and 28 threaded thereon intermediately of which is positioned a compression spring 29'bearing at one end against a washer 30 and at its opposite end against vthe nutv 21 or a washer associated therewith.

The washer 30 bears against the upper cam face 22 on the end of the arm 2| and resiliently maintains such arm, i. e., the lower cam face 22 thereof, in contact with the lower nut 28. The nuts 21 and 28 may be locked in position on the shaft 24 in suitable adjustable relation by locked nuts such as 21 and 28.

. As most clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, the frame members 3 and 4 rotatably support a screw shaft 3| which, yat its lower end, is reduced and set in a bearing plate 32 removably secured to the frame member 4 and at its upper end passes through the frame member 3 and supported axially and laterally by means of a bearing plate 33 removably secured to the member 3.

Threaded on the screw shaft 3l is an adjusting nut 34 which, at one side, is provided with a. boss 35 apertured to receive the terminal of the shaft I9, which shaft is keyed in said boss by means of a pin such as 36. It will be noted that upon rotation of the shaft 3|, relatively to the frame members 3 and 4, the nut .will be moved axially of such shaft and the blade accordingly adjusted relatively vertically with re- Aspect to the ground-engaging surface ofthe runner 9 carried by the frame member 4.

Rotation of the nut 3| may be veffected by a telescopic shaft, generally indicated at 31, comprising a. lower section 38 and an upper section 39, the two sections ybeing. longitudinally splined so that the upper section 39 may be secured to a universal joint, generally indicated at 40, mounted on the frame of the machine and adapted to be actuated by a lever 4|, the rotation of which effects the rotation of the nut 3| while permitting vertical movement of the blade by rotation of adjusting wheels such as 42 or 43. The lower end of lower member 38 is connected to the upper end of screw shaft 3| bymeans of a universal joint, generally indicated at 44, the construction of the universal joints and the means associated with the lever 4|, whereby the shaft 3| may be rotated from the operators platform on the grader, may partake of any standard form, so that a further description of this mechanism will not be given.

The operation of the above described apparatus comprising my invention is briefly as follows:

Either before or during the operation of the machine,l the shaft 3| will be rotated sol as to effect a proper relationshipv between the lower edge of the scraper blade and the ground-engaging surface of the runner 9. This adjustment determines the depth of cut to be made by the grader blade and insures that such depth will be maintained at Iall times during the operation of the machine.

One of the primary purposes of the apparatus comprising my invention is, as above indicated, to eliminate chattering of the blade as it passes over the surface to be worked.y This is prevented by i the runner 9 having contact with the ground for an appreciable distance on opposite sides of the grader blade. By having the frame connected to the blade by means of the shaft I9 and the apparatus most clearly illustrated in Figure 3, a certain amo-unt of movement of the frame relatively to the blade about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade is permitted, such mo-vement, however, being opposed by the spring 29.

It should be noted at this point that it is within the contemplation of my invention to space the nut 28 for an appreciable distance from the lower cam face 22 on the arm 2| and interpose a l spring such as 29 between such nut and arm 2| so that relative movement between the frame and blade on the above defined axis may be permitted within limits .in both directions.

Relative movement between the blade and frame about the axis of the screw 3| is permitted by virtue of the rotatable connection between the nut 34 and the screw 3|. These two planes of relative movement are sufficient to permit operation of the device without binding but affords a sufficiently rigid connection between the blade and runner so that the blade will not be permitted to chatter over the ground with which the runner is in Contact.

For certain types of installation it may be desirable to provide the upper end of the shaft 3| with an actuating handle mounted in the immediate vicinity of the frame or such handle might be removably secured to such shaft extension without carrying the shaft up to the operators platform on the grader.

A further description vof the construction of the device comprising my invention is believed unnecessary for those familiar with the art. Suice it to say that a slightly different arrangement between the frame and blade may be had than that illustrated, without departing from the principles ofmy invention, so long as the runner is effective to contact with the ground for an appreciable extent in the vicinity of the end of the grader blade, whereby undesirable chattering of the blade will be eliminated.

Other modes of applying the principle -vof my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following Yclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a roadV grading machine, the combination with a grader blade, of means adjustably and oscillatably secured to said blade adapted to have contact with the ground in front of and behind said blade whereby the same may be supported in adjustable predetermined relation to the ground.

2. In a road grading machine, the combination with a main frame, of a grader blade, a groundengaging runner arranged outwardly of and transversely across one end of said blade, means mounting said runner on the adjacent end of said blade, and an oblique link connecting said runner with said blade at a point intermediate the ends of said blade.

3. In a road grading machine, the combination with a main frame, of a grader blade, a runner arranged outwardly of and transversely across one end of said blade and adapted to engage the ground approximately in the plane of the cut made by the cutting edge of said blade, means mounting said runner on the adjacent end of said blade, and an oblique link connecting said runner with said blade at a point between said mounting means and the distant end of said blade.

4. In a road grading machine, the combination with a main frame, of a grader blade, a groundengaging runner arranged transversely of one end of said blade, elements adapted to support said runner on the adjacent end of said blades including a resilient member adapted to resist rotative movement between said runner and said blade, and an oblique link connecting said renner with said blade at a point between said supporting elements and the distant end of said blade.

5. In a road grading machine, the combination with a grader blade,rigidly mounted on an adjustable member in such machine, of a ground engaging runner arranged across one end of said blade, a shaft having one end revolvably mounted in a bracket attached to said blade, means adapted to support said runner on the other end of said shaft, and a lever flxedly mounted on said shaftwhich lever is resiliently held in an adjustable 2O position relative to said blade.

ROY J. WINSOR. 

